With PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds, Checkpoint Systems produces aesthetically pleasing security antennas in individual store designs

• Checkpoint Systems, the manufacturer of detection systems, is replacing conspicuous gates with a discreet column
• A cover made of PLEXIGLAS® Softlight special molding compound colored in gray enables a homogeneous light effect at a low component depth
• The robust material from Röhm meets sustainability standards in shopfitting thanks to its longevity

Until recently, loss prevention antennas at checkouts or retail exits were often designed as bulky gray panels or pillars with minimal visual appeal. The American company Checkpoint Systems has revealed details of its next generation of aesthetic antennas with innovatively designed covers. Casings on the NS40 and NS42 feature a special light-scattering PLEXIGLAS® product. It enables them to fit seamlessly into the retail environment while delivering an elegant, attention-grabbing light effect. PLEXIGLAS® is the brand polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) from Röhm in the Americas.

In search of better light

Checkpoint created a product that combined excellent performance with aesthetics, enabling the antennas to complement and blend in with a store’s design as much as possible. As the company’s Industrial Designer, Ben Rubinstein explains: “Our aim is always to help our retail clients stand out from the competition with products that are aesthetically pleasing, so we decided we needed to review a number of the antennas in our portfolio. While we do our best to make them as elegant as possible, some of the older ones did not look good when the alarms were sounding – as soon as the security function was triggered, the warning lights were uneven and there were hotspots.” Rubinstein set out to find a material that would enable more homogeneous light on the columns and fortunately discovered PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds.

Convincing light scattering

“I quickly realized that PLEXIGLAS® molding compounds offer precisely the properties we need,” comments Rubinstein, who was working on an innovative electronic article surveillance (EAS) system for food retailing at the time. Instead of bulky, conspicuous gates, the new design consists of just one elegant column. An LED light is integrated at the top, hidden beneath an injection-molded cover made of gray PLEXIGLAS® Softlight molding compound. “This special molding compound has a particularly good scattering effect and prevents hotspots,” explains Neville Green, New Business Development Manager at Röhm. “Therefore, covers for RGB LEDs can achieve a homogeneous light effect even at low component depths.” This was a key factor for Checkpoint Systems, as the compact and sleek design of the new NS40 and NS42 line required the LEDs to sit very close to the material.

Rubinstein adds: “The LEDs are only a few millimeters away from the material. Other plastics quickly reach their limits here when it comes to their ability to scatter light. The PLEXIGLAS® material can scatter light evenly however close we position the LEDs and, for me, this borders on magic.”

PLEXIGLAS® is versatile and durable

When it is not lit up, the molding compound has a black appearance and elegantly blends in with the low-key design of the columns. However, when the light source is activated, the columns can light up in any color combination and are only red when the alarm has been triggered by a potential shoplifter passing the antenna.

Another feature that convinced Checkpoint Systems to choose Röhm is the material’s high resistance. PMMA has one of the highest surface hardnesses of any thermoplastic and boasts good chemical resistance against, for example, cleaning agents. “Security systems at store exits need to withstand quite a bit of wear and tear,” comments Rubinstein. “Our EAS systems at checkouts need to be robust and last for at least ten years. This not only fits in with customers’ increasing efforts to ensure sustainability, but also matches Checkpoint Systems’ corporate philosophy. We are working towards a genuine circular economy and, to this end, nearly all of the plastics we use are recyclable.”

This is also the case for PLEXIGLAS®: Röhm’s durable PMMA molding compounds are “sustainable by design” and are 100% recyclable. This combination of properties is one of the key deciding factors for Checkpoint Systems in partnering with Röhm. As a result, Rubinstein believes it is highly likely that the collaboration will continue for future projects, too. “We have lots of possible areas of application for PLEXIGLAS® products, and we will certainly be taking a closer look at ways to work together going forward,” he concludes.